The Earth's Natural Intensity (or Strength of the Earth's Field)

Using the premise that the Earth gives us exactly what need in just the right amounts, we will look at four different aspects of the Earth's magnetic field and the naturally occurring Earth-based pulsed electromagnetic fields. We will begin by talking about intensity.

The intensity of the Earth's magnetic field is simply the strength of this field measured in gauss or tesla (two main units of magnetic field strength).

Think of a strong magnet versus a weak magnet. The stronger magnet has a stronger magnetic intensity. Certain high grade neodynium magnets can have intensities over 12,000 gauss. Electromagnetics can be made even stronger.

It turns out that the intensity of the Earth's magnetic field is relatively weak being .33 gauss at the equator and about .66 gauss at the poles. This translates to 33 microtesla at the equators and 66 microtesla at the poles. (1 Tesla = 10,000 gauss or 1 gauss = .0001 Tesla).

The Highly Energetic Nature of the Earth

The solar wind is a relentless storm of energy radiated from the sun into space and eventually beating on the Earth at speeds of 200-700 km/sec. This pulsating flow of energy creates tremendous electric and magnetic fields through space.

Also on earth there are approximately 100 lightning strikes a sec which equals over 8 million strikes each day!

Magnetic fields extend infinitely into space but become weaker as an inverse square to the distance from their source. The earth's magnetic field, which extends thousands of miles into space, is called the magnetosphere.The field is similar to that of a bar magnet but this similarity is not really correct. The magnetic field of a bar magnet, or any other type of permanent magnet, is created by the synchronized spins of electrons and nuclei within the atoms. The Earth's core, however, is hotter than 1000 K, at which the orientations of spins within iron become chaotic. This causes the iron deposits to lose their magnetic field. Therefore the Earth's magnetic field is caused not by magnetized iron deposits, but mostly by electric currents in the liquid outer core. This happens because the liquid outer core has a plethora of free electrons that form a current due to the pulsating magnetic fields of the sun (via Faradays Law). This is how power is created at the power plant. A changing magnetic field (generator) produces a electric current.

This electric current produced in the outer core then in turn creates a magnetic field by ampere's law (see below).

This is the Dynamo Theory and it explains how the earth's magnetic field is sustained.

Another feature that distinguishes the Earth magnetically from a bar magnet is its magnetosphere. At large distances from the planet, this dominates the surface magnetic field. Electric currents induced in the ionosphere also generate magnetic fields.

Ampere's Law

The IMPORTANT point of explaining this is that the earth’s magnetic field is produced by electrical currents which by Ampere's law produces a magnetic field.

This is a very important reason why pulsed magnetic therapy mats are more effective than static magnetic mattress pads. All the pulsed magnetic therapy mats on the market use electrical currents NOT static magnetics, just like the earth.

To better understand how currents create magnetic fields check out the link below. Don't worry about all the equations, just notice the pictures. See how a current produces a magnetic field using the right hand rule and how magnetic iron filings align around the field. Also notice how a current loop produces a north-south dipole similar to a bar magnetic. This is how the pulsed magnetic therapy devices on the market work. The use one or several bundles of conducting loops that create a north-south dipole.

http://electron9.phys.utk.edu/phys136d/modules/m7/Ampere.htm

So What is the Best Intensity?

If you have been following along, the answer is clear... The best intensity is ideally what the Earth gives us which would be under 100 uT (microtesla). In fact, the best researched companies that make pulsed electromagnetic field therapy devices all stick to using under 100 uT because not only is it safest, but it seems to work better as well.

And to properly duplicate nature, it should be clear that static magnets are not the answer either as we have explained that the Earth's magnetic field is not static at all.

So if we seek to understand and copy nature, we should look for pulsating therapy devices with intensities under 100 uT (approximately).

And buyer beware, because there are several magnetic pulse therapy devices that use unnaturally high intensities that can cause harm in the long run.

The World Health Organization considers a continuous magnetic field of 100 micro-Tesla (1 Gauss) at 50Hz as safe.

Further the limit of strength for induced electromagnetic fields according to DIN (German industry norm) is 400 uT. There are no known risks with use of systems of low electromagnetic fields, but stay away from units going above 400 uT.

Again, it's best to stick with Nature and even the government agencies recognize this.